By Esmi Jikiemi-Pearson

BBC Books

The novelisation of the Fifteenth Doctor’s first full adventure.

In a change from the three paperbacks based on the Doctor Who anniversary specials, Esmi Jikiemi-Pearson’s adaptation of Russell T Davies’ 2023 Christmas special arrives as a hardback, and despite being described on the dust jacket as a ‘Target’ book, doesn’t have the typical look of the Target house style.

This is no bad thing, and in line with the show’s desire to name Ncuti Gatwa’s first run as Season One, this book serves as a jumping-on point rather than the latest instalment from a series with a 60-year legacy. Jikiemi-Pearson’s approach is also like a breath of fresh air, the short and frequent chapters allowing the story to fly with unfussy prose .

There’s a lightness of touch which allows Davies’ slight tale to bounce along from baby Ruby’s abandonment on Christmas Eve, to battles with Goblins, to a mysterious coda from Mrs Flood. It’s written with an enthusiasm and joy that decidedly avoids any ‘oh, you know the score here’ assumptions about the material, treating it as fresh and unexpected and mirroring Ruby’s introduction to the Whoniverse.

Verdict: Light, bouncy and happy, there’s a joy to this writing that serves its festive material perfectly. 8/10

Nick Joy

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